Playing into Hamas's hands

Hamas is getting exactly what it wants...a full-scale invasion of Gaza, with massive civilian casualties. That invasion will accomplish...nothing. But it'll score big big big diplomatic points for Hamas. Probably will force the Saudis away from any peace accords with Israel.

And of course...the warhawks over here are screaming, spittle flying, for a full-scale war--against somebody. Maybe Hamas. Maybe Iran. Maybe Iceland. Doesn't matter as long as there are lotsa big booms. The doves who didn't want to send aid to Ukraine are now full-blown screaming hawks. That's also what Hamas wants.

I wonder if the various Lindsay Grahams and other chest-thumping RepubliQ warhawk yahoos even realize that they're being perfect Hamas puppets.

This also helps to prop up Netanyahu and what was an alarmingly antidemocratic government. In fact, their Supreme Court debacle reminds me of ours, with the Trump-packing that turned it into a laughingstock. Whatever was going to happen to Netanyahu, with all the legal trouble he's in (remind you of anybody?), is going to be put on hold while Israeli troops are in Gaza.

The immoral aspect of all this is that the poor bastards in Gaza who are ruled by Hamas weren't responsible for the attacks, but they're the ones getting blown up. Israel says it's going after "Hamas targets," but what does that even mean when the target is an apartment block where 200 people live?

I don't pretend to have an answer to the whole mess. But it's clear that unless they want to commit genocide, Israel can't solve this problem with brute military force.

According to Kevin Hamas is free to attack Israel at will but Israel can't retaliate. Typical liberal; Arab terrorism ok, but Israel bad. 

Never said that or anything remotely like it, stupid Tommie-poo.

What was Israel supposed to do in response to this attack? 1000+ dead civilians ( including beheaded babies as one of the worst atrocities); as you infer in different words, Hamas will get what they asked for with this attack including the negative peripheral aspects..and rightfully so. More innocent collateral deaths are inevitable..let's just be honest that Hamas iniated these actions with their attack. This conflict has been occuring for centuries...neither side  is bendable.

If you discern what the enemy wants, you make sure you don't do that, and in fact strive to do the opposite, hm? What Israel should do is utterly cut Gaza off from the outside world. They can intercept the flow of weapons and money from Iran. Blockade everything but water and food--cut off the fuel, power, and flow of goods. Respond to any rocket attacks in kind--Israel has control of the air and far better munitions, so they can overfly Gaza and monitor what's going on. Eventually, Hamas will be starved out--or the people will throw them out.

Diplomatically, make sure it's known that the war is with Hamas, not the Palestinian people. If they go all John Wayne and invade, with all guns blazing, the civilians won't think the Israelis are drawing any distinctions between them and the terrorists. Tell them that if they can get rid of Hamas, peace will be restored. Enlist the help of the West Bank authorities to act as mediators.

But when you respond to the killing of children by...killing children, you've already lost. You've done what the enemy wants.

My understanding is the Israeli soldiers are going to pursue targeted efforts...door to door contacts to ID and target only Hamas members in addition to heavy attack on known Hamas strongholds via intelligence, etc. No question more innocent lives including Palestinians will be lost. Under the circumstances, based on the history of this conflict, I wouldn't expect the Israelis to be very diplomatic as an upfront approach; that's somewhat outside their nature in a situation like this. 

What I said

According to Kevin Hamas is free to attack Israel at will but Israel can't retaliate

kevin's claim

Never said that or anything remotely like it

What kevin said

But it's clear that unless they want to commit genocide, Israel can't solve this problem with brute military force.

Sounds like kevin said shouldn't attack hamas.

What kevin said

Respond to any rocket attacks in kind--Israel has control of the air and far better munitions, so they can overfly Gaza and monitor what's going on.

But when you respond to the killing of children by...killing children, you've already lost

No country has ever surrendered to an air force.  In order to win Israel will have to go in on the ground.

There is a big difference between beheading children in front of their parents & murdering people at a concert and cowards using civilians as humans shields.

Tom favors the indiscriminate murder of civilians. Good thing he's not in charge of anything.

  Lying Lewis favors distorting the truth - a great thing HE is not in charge of anything meaningful.

Netanyahu played into Hamas's hands by appointing people to positions of responsibility based on their loyalty to him rather than on their competence. Sounds like a certain past US president we used to have.

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